Islay
Location
OS grid reference:	NR370598
Names
Gaelic name:	Ìle
Norse name:	Yula-Oy/Il
Meaning of name:	Old Norse for 'Yula's isle'
Area and Summit
Area:	61,956 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands):	5
Highest elevation:	Beinn Bheigier 491 m
Population
Population (2001):	3,457
Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands):	7 out of 97
Main settlement:	Port Ellen
Groupings
Island Group:	Islay
Local Authority:	Argyll and Bute
References:	[1][2][3][4]

Islay (pronounced /ˈaɪlə/; Scottish Gaelic: Ìle, IPA: [ˈiːʎə] ee-luh), a Scottish island, known as "The Queen of the Hebrides" (Banrìgh nan Eilean),^[5] is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age Beinn Bheigier (occasionally anglicised as "Ben Vicar" is a Marilyn on the Isle of Islay. Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. Port Ellen is a small Town in Argyll, Scotland. It is the second largest town on the island of Islay, after Bowmore. For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as This article is about the council area For the constituencies see either Argyll and Bute (UK Parliament constituency or Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant The Inner Hebrides ( Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan a-staigh - the inner isles is an Archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south It lies in Argyll just to the west of Jura and around 25 miles north of the Irish coast, which can be seen on a clear day. Argyll, Archaically Argyle ( Earra-Ghàidheal in modern Gaelic) is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part Jura ( Scottish Gaelic Diùra) is an Island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated adjacent and to the north-east of Islay Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A native of Islay is called an Ìleach, pronounced [ˈiːʎəx], and the plural is Ìlich: Scottish Gaelic is still the main language of the west of the island. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. The island's capital is Bowmore, famous for its distillery and distinctive round Kilarrow Parish Church. Bowmore is a Village on the Scottish island of Islay and serves as administrative capital of the island Kilarrow Church is a Church of Scotland parish church overlooking and serving Bowmore on the Isle of Islay. Port Ellen is the largest settlement. Port Ellen is a small Town in Argyll, Scotland. It is the second largest town on the island of Islay, after Bowmore.

Islay is the fifth largest Scottish island^[1] and the sixth largest island surrounding Britain.

Islay has just over three thousand inhabitants. It has a total area of just over 600 square kilometres (239 square miles). To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² Its main industries are malt whisky distilling, and tourism largely based on whisky and birdwatching. Islay whisky is Scotch whisky made on Islay (ˈaɪlɑː eye-luh) the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of Birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like Binoculars.

The island is home to many bird species and is a popular destination throughout the year with bird watchers, notably in February to see a large colony of Barnacle Geese. The Barnacle Goose ( Branta leucopsis) belongs to the Genus Branta of black geese, which contains Species with largely black Resident birds include Chough, Hen Harrier, Oystercatcher, Cormorant and many wading birds. Chough is the Genus Pyrrhocorax of Birds in the Corvidae ( Crow) family. The Hen Harrier ( Circus cyaneus) or Northern Harrier (in North America) is a Bird of prey. The Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, also known as the Common Pied Oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just Oystercatcher, is a The Great Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo) known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere the Black Cormorant in Australia and the

The climate on Islay is often more clement than the Scottish mainland owing to the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that

History

View from the American Monument, The Oa

The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. The Oa ( Scottish Gaelic: An Obha) is a rocky region in the south west of Islay and an RSPB Nature reserve. A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period An ice cap is an Ice mass that covers less than 50 000 km² of land area (usually covering a highland area In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far in Scotland. Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert ^[6] Other finds have been dated to 7,000 BC using radiocarbon dating of shells and debris from kitchen middens. Radiocarbon dating is a Radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring Radioisotope Carbon-14 (14C to determine the age of A midden, also known as a kitchen midden, or a shell heap, is a dump for domestic waste. ^[7][8] By the Neolithic, settlements had become more permanent,^[9] allowing for the construction of several communal monuments. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos ^[10]

Recorded history begins with a document relating to St Columba^[11] who probably passed through Islay on his way to establish the monastery on Iona in the sixth century. WikipediaPersondata --> See Columba (disambiguation and St Columb for other uses Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is renowned for its tranquility The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. At this time, Islay lay within the kingdom of Dál Riata and was ruled by the Cenél nÓengusa. Dál Riata (also Dalriada or Dalriata) was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western seaboard of Scotland with some territory on the northern The Cenél nÓengusa were a kin group who ruled the island of Islay, and perhaps nearby Colonsay, off the western coast of Scotland in the early Middle

From the 14th to the 16th centuries much of the west coast of Scotland was governed by the Lordship of the Isles from Finlaggan on Islay. The designation Lord of the Isles (Triath nan Eilean or Rí Innse Gall now a Scottish title of nobility, emerged from a series of hybrid Viking / Gaelic A record of lands granted to an Islay resident, Brian Vicar MacKay, by the Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles in 1408 known as the Islay Charter is one of the earliest records of Gaelic in public use and is a significant historical document. Donald, or properly Domhnall of Islay (died 1423 was the son and successor of John of Islay Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. The Islay Charter or "Gaelic Charter of 1408" is a grant of lands by Domhnall of Islay Lord of the Isles to "Brian Bhicaire Magaodh" ( Brian Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ^[12] The origins of the Lordship date back to the defeat of the Danes off the coast of Islay in 1156 by Somerled. Somerled ( Old Norse Sumarliði, Scottish Gaelic Somhairle, commonly Anglicized from Gaelic as Sorley) was a military and political The Finlaggan Trust deal with this period in detail and the Island is open to visitors daily. The Finlaggan Trust also has a visitor centre which is open on some days of the week. The British Channel 4 Time Team television series excavated on Finlaggan on the 24 June–26 June 1994. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Time Team is a British television series that has aired on Channel 4 since 1994 Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The episode was first broadcast on 8 January 1995. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995

Starting in the 1830s, the population of the island began dropping from its peak of fifteen thousand as a result of the Highland Clearances. The Highland Clearances ( Scottish Gaelic: Fuadaich nan Gàidheal the expulsion of the Gael were Forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Today's population is about three thousand. Most emigrants from Islay made new homes in Ontario, Canada, the Carolinas in the United States, and Australia. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

During World War II, the RAF built an airfield at Glenegedale which later became the civil airport for Islay. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Islay Airport (also known as Glenegedale Airport) is located 4 There was also an RAF Coastal Command flying boat base at Bowmore from 13/03/41 using Loch Indaal, flying Short G Boat, Short C Boat (the precursor of the Sunderland) and Catalina I. A flying boat is a specialised form of Aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water using its Fuselage as a floating hull. Loch Indaal (or Lochindaal) is a Sea loch on the island of Islay, the southernmost of the Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland ^[13] On 01/09/42 a reformed 246 Squadron with Sunderland Mark III aircraft took over. ^[14] In May, 1943, RCAF 422 Squadron moved to Lochindall at Bowmore with Sunderland Aircraft. ^[15] The 1942 film "Coastal Command" was partly filmed in Bowmore. ^[16]

There was a RAF Chain Home radar station at Saligo Bay and RAF Chain Home Low radar station at Kilchiaran which became a RAF ROTOR radar station in the 1950s. Chain Home was the codename for the ring of coastal Radar stations built by the British before and during World War II. Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships Chain Home Low (CHL was the name of a Radar system used by the RAF during WWII. ROTOR was a huge and elaborate air defence Radar system built by the British Government in the early 1950s to counter possible attack by Soviet Bombers

In the early 21st century, a campus of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig was set up on Islay, Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a Scottish Gaelic medium College based in Sleat, on the Isle of Skye in north west Scotland. Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle ('The Islay Columba Centre' is a Gaelic medium college on the shores of Loch Indaal on the island of Islay in Scotland

Geography

Topographic map

The island's population is mainly centred around the villages of Bowmore, Port Ellen, and Port Charlotte. Bowmore is a Village on the Scottish island of Islay and serves as administrative capital of the island Port Charlotte ( Gaelic Port Sgioba) is a village on the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. Other smaller villages include Portnahaven, Bridgend, and Port Askaig. Portnahaven ( Scottish Gaelic: Port na h-Abhainne meaning river port is a Village on Islay in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland Bridgend ( Scottish Gaelic: Beul an Atha) is a village on the Inner Hebrides island of Islay off the western coast of Scotland Port Askaig is a Port Village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland. The rest of the island is sparsely populated and mainly agricultural.

The south-western end of the main body is a largely rocky region called The Oa. The Oa ( Scottish Gaelic: An Obha) is a rocky region in the south west of Islay and an RSPB Nature reserve. The north western arm of the island is called the Rhinns of Islay. The Rinns of Islay ( Scottish Gaelic: Na Roinn Ileach; alternate English spelling Rhinns of Islay) is an area on the west of the island of Islay There are several lochs on the island including Loch Finlaggan, Loch Gruinart, Loch Gorm, Loch Indaal, Loch Ballygrant and Loch Allan. A loch (usually Lough as a name element outside Scotland) is a body of Water which is either a Lake or Loch Indaal (or Lochindaal) is a Sea loch on the island of Islay, the southernmost of the Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland

Lochindaal, a sea loch which separates the Rhinns of Islay from the rest of the island, is formed along a branch of the great Glen Fault called the Loch Gruinart Fault, the main line of which passes just to the north of Colonsay. This separates the limestone, igneous inclusions and Bowmore sandstones from the Colonsay group rocks of the Rhinns. ^[17] The result is occasional, minor earth tremors. ^[18]

There are no Munros on Islay or Jura, the highest peak being Beinn Bheigier a Marilyn at 491 metres (about 1,610 feet). A Munro is a Scottish mountain with a height over 3000 feet (914 Beinn Bheigier (occasionally anglicised as "Ben Vicar" is a Marilyn on the Isle of Islay. A Marilyn is a type of Mountain or Hill in Great Britain, Ireland or surrounding islands with a relative height of at least 150 metres

Climate

The influence of the Gulf Stream keeps the climate mild compared to mainland Scotland. Snow is rarely seen and frosts are light and short-lived. One might expect therefore a gardener's paradise and indeed, it is not unusual to see exotic plants growing in gardens. However, the winter gales which sweep in off the Atlantic can make travelling and living on the island during the winter difficult, while ferry and air links to the mainland are frequently delayed. The weather tends to become more pleasant around Easter and the summer season then extends until well into September.

Transport

Road map.

Many of the roads on the island are single-track with passing places. A single track road or one lane road is a Road that permits two way travel but is not wide enough to allow oncoming Vehicles to pass The two main roads are the A846 from Ardbeg to Port Askaig via Port Ellen and Bowmore, and the A847 which runs down the east coast of the Rhinns. The A846 road is one of the two principal roads of Islay in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland and the only 'A' road on the The A847 road is one of the two principal roads of Islay in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The island has its own bus service provided by Ben Mundell trading as Islay Coaches.

The island has its own airport, Glenegedale Airport with services to and from Glasgow. Islay Airport (also known as Glenegedale Airport) is located 4

There are regular ferry services to Port Ellen and Port Askaig from Kennacraig, taking about two hours. Kennacraig is a hamlet situated on West Loch Tarbert, a few miles south of Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula Services to Port Askaig also run on to Scalasaig on Colonsay and on to Oban on Wednesdays during the summer only. Scalasaig is the main settlement on the Isle of Colonsay in the Scottish Hebrides. Colonsay ( Gaelic: Colbhasa is an Island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull Oban ( An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic meaning The Little Bay) is a Resort Town within the Argyll and Bute council area These services are run by Caledonian MacBrayne. Caledonian MacBrayne (usually shortened to Cal Mac; Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn in Scottish Gaelic) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries There is also a ferry that runs from Port Askaig to Feolin on Jura. Feolin (also known as Feolin Ferry) is a slipway on the west coast of Jura. Jura ( Scottish Gaelic Diùra) is an Island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated adjacent and to the north-east of Islay A new ferry is expected to enter service in 2011. ^[20]

See also The Islay Ferry - Past and Present.. islayinfo. com. Retrieved on 2008-01-23. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor

Distilleries

View from the Caol Ila Distillery to the Paps of Jura

Islay malt whisky is produced by eight distilleries on the island. Islay whisky is Scotch whisky made on Islay (ˈaɪlɑː eye-luh) the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast

The distilleries on the south of the island produce whiskies with a very strong peaty flavour. Peat is an accumulation of partially Decayed Vegetation matter. From east to west they are Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig. Ardbeg Distillery is a Scotch whisky Distillery on the south coast of the isle of Islay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, in the Lagavulin Single Malt is a Single malt Scotch Whisky produced on the island of Islay. Laphroaig Distillery (ləˈfrɔɪɡ lə-FROYG) is a Scotch whisky distillery situated on the south coast of the isle of Islay (These three are considered to be among the most intensely flavoured of all whiskies). On the north of the island Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, and Caol Ila are produced. Bowmore (pronounced "Boh-more" is a Distillery that produces Scotch whisky on the isle of Islay, an island of the Inner Hebrides. Bruichladdich Distillery is a Scotch whisky Distillery on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. Location Situated in the North East of the hebridean island of Islay, the tiny village of Bunnahabhain was first established in 1881 to house workers from the Caol Ila Distillery is a Scotch whisky Distillery near Port Askaig on the isle of Islay, Scotland. These whiskies are substantially lighter in taste. There were more distilleries in the past: Port Ellen closed in 1983 while the Lochindaal in Port Charlotte closed as long ago as 1929. The Port Ellen Single Malt is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky produced by the Port Ellen Distillery in Port Ellen, Scotland Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Little blending is done on the island, though since the takeover of Bruichladdich distillery by several private individuals whisky is now blended and bottled there by Master Distiller James McEwan. Bruichladdich is also noteworthy as the only distillery which bottles its malts on Islay.

In 2005, a new microdistillery opened at Rockside Farm. A microdistillery is a small often ' Boutique ' Distillery, most commonly in the United States. Named Kilchoman Distillery, it officially opened in June, and distilled its first spirit in November. The Kilchoman Distillery is a Distillery that produces Single malt Scotch whisky on Islay, an island of the Inner Hebrides. The malting floor burned down in February 2006, but there is sufficient stock to continue production pending repairs.

In March 2007 Bruichladdich announced that it would reopen Port Charlotte Distillery, using equipment from the Inverleven distillery. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The distillery will use the existing warehouses of the former Lochindaal Distillery while a visitors centre will be built on the current site of Clyne's Garage.

Apart from the whisky there is now an original real ale from the Isle of Islay. Cask ale or cask-conditioned beer is the term for unfiltered and unpasteurised Beer which is conditioned (including Secondary fermentation The Islay Ales Brewery opened its doors on March 22, 2004 and brews seven different real ales,^[21] some of which are seasonal, or for special occasions such as the yearly Festival of Malt and Music. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The brewery is located on Islay House Square just outside Bridgend.

Wave energy

Landsat image of Islay, with Jura visible to the east

The location of Islay, exposed to the full force of the North Atlantic, has led to it being the site of a pioneering, and Scotland's first, wave power station near Portnahaven. The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acquisition of imagery of Earth from space Wave power refers to the Energy of Ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work — including Electricity generation, In 2000 this station became the world's first commercial wave power station. ^[22] The Islay LIMPET (Land Installed Marine Powered Energy Transformer) wave power generator was designed and built by Wavegen and researchers from the Queen's University of Belfast, and was financially backed by the European Union. Islay LIMPET is the world’s first commercial wave power device connected to the National Grid. Queen's University Belfast is a university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Known as Limpet 500, it feeds half a megawatt of electricity into the island's grid.

Fishing

Looking over to Jura from Port Askaig

Islay has some of the finest brown trout fishing in Europe. Port Askaig is a Port Village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland. The brown trout ( Salmo trutta morpha fario and S trutta morpha lacustris) and the sea trout ( S The imported rainbow trout have not been released on the island and the "brownies" still dominate the freshwater ecosystems. The rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a species of Salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America In 2003 the European Fishing competition was held on five of the lochs. Most of the estates organise fishing on the rivers and lochs and maintain the banks for fishing. Sea angling is also popular especially over the many shipwrecks around the coast. Angling is a method of Fishing by means of an "angle" ( hook) A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink the stranding of the ship on rocks

Media

Islay was featured in some of the scenes of the 1954 film, The Maggie. The Maggie (released in the US as High and Dry) is a 1954 British Comedy film.

Part of the action in Julian May's book Diamond Mask takes place on Islay, where some characters engage in birdwatching. Julian May (born July 10, 1931) is an American Science fiction writer best known for her Saga of Pliocene Exile (

In the 1990s the BBC adaptation of Para Handy was partly filmed in Port Charlotte and featured a race between the Vital Spark (Para Handy's puffer) and a rival puffer along the length of Loch Indaal. Para Handy, the anglicized Gaelic Nickname of the Fictional character Peter Macfarlane, is a character created by the journalist and writer Neil Munro The Vital Spark is a fictional Clyde puffer, created by Neil Munro. The Clyde puffer is essentially a type of small Steamboat which provided a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland, stumpy The local primary school children were released from classes along the length of the loch to watch the race.

Since 1973 the Ileach has been delivering news to the people of Islay every two weeks. This twenty-eight-page, A4-sized publication now has a circulation locally and worldwide of 3,000 copies. A series Paper in the A series format has a 1\sqrt{2} aspect ratio although this is rounded to the nearest millimetre The Ileach was named Community Newspaper of the year in 2007. ^[23] Brian Palmer from the Ileach Community Newspaper was interviewed in November 2007 about the island and its people. ^[5] In 2007, parts of the BBC Springwatch programme were recorded on Islay with Simon King being based on Islay. Simon King is a British Television presenter and Cameraman, specialising in nature documentaries. ^[24]

Famous natives of Islay

Islay's most famous son of recent times is George Robertson, the former secretary-general of NATO and former British Defence Secretary. This article is about the contemporary politician For the president of the Court of Session see James Robertson Baron Robertson George The North Atlantic Treaty The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. In 1999 he was made Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.

• General Alexander McDougall, a figure in the American Revolution and the first president of the Bank of New York, was born in Islay in 1731. Alexander McDougall (about 1731&ndash1786 was an American seaman merchant a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The Bank of New York, abbrieviated BNY, was a global Financial services company that existed until its merger with the Mellon Financial Corporation

• The Islay-born Reverend Donald Caskie (1902–1983) became known as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for his exploits in France during World War II. The Rev Dr Donald Caskie OBE DD MA OCF (1902 - 1983 was a minister in the Church of Scotland, best known for his exploits in France during World War II

• Glenn Campbell, Scottish political reporter for the BBC, was brought up on Islay and attended Islay High School^[25] where his performance in the annual pantomime is still remembered. Glenn Campbell is a Scottish news and current affairs broadcaster currently working for BBC Scotland.

• Billy Stewart (born 1935) steered a course from Port Ellen Primary school to being the government’s Chief Scientific advisor in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sir William Stewart, FRS, FRSE, was President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1999-2002 and Chairman of the Microbiological Research Authority Sir William Stewart as he is now known, is currently chairman of the Health Protection Agency.

• John Crawfurd was born on Islay in 1783 and during a career around the world became governor of Singapore. For the Irish cricketer of the same name see John Crawfurd (cricketer John Crawfurd, (born August 13, 1783 - died Singapore He also wrote a number of books.

• Ben Wilson of Cultoon is currently a rising star in the national shooting scene and recently won a double medal at the Bisley Grand Prix

• Isla Fisher, famous actress who starred in Home & Away & comedy classic Wedding Crashers, was named after the island. Ben Wilson may refer to Ben Wilson (American football, former professional American football player Ben Wilson (artist, London based Isla Lang Fisher (born February 3, 1976) is an Australian actress and Author. Home and Away (also commonly abbreviated in writing to H&A) is a Logie Award -winning Australian Soap opera that has been Wedding Crashers is a 2005 Comedy film, directed by David Dobkin. Her Grandparents used to live near Bowmore.

Churches

Kildalton Cross

The Church of Scotland congregation of Kilarrow Parish Church (aka the Round Church) is currently vacant. The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. The church is round, legend has it, to leave no corner for the devil to hide in.

The Church of Scotland on the Rhinns of Islay is just outside the village of Port Charlotte, known as St Keiran's, it is led by the Rev. Steve Fulcher who is also the minister of the Kilmeny congregation. St John's Church of Scotland, Port Ellen, currently having no minister, and exploring a possible linkage with Kilarrow is currently being served by a locum — Angela Stather who is a Church of Scotland Reader. Each of the vacant Church of Scotland congregations has an Interim Moderator who is responsible for the oversight of the congregation.

In addition there are several other congregations on Islay. The Baptist congregation has recently appointed George Campbell, formerly the minister on Jura, to be their minister. Baptists meet in the mornings in Port Ellen and in the evenings in Bowmore. The Scottish Episcopal Church of St. Columba is located in Bridgend and the priest with charge is the Revd. Ken Skipper. The Islay Catholic congregation also uses St Columba's for its services.

Many old church buildings on Islay are in an unroofed and ruined state; many have considerable historical interest dating from mediæval times. The ruined church of Kildalton has one of the finest carved crosses in the world; dating to the 8th century, it is carved out of the local bluestone. A carved cross of similar age, but much more heavily weathered can be found at Kilnave. ^[26] Associated with many churches are mysterious cupstones which date to prehistory; these can be seen at Kilchoman church where the carved cross there is erected on one, at Kilchiaran church on the Rhinns and at other sites. Several more recently abandoned churches have been adapted as dwellings.

Celtic traditions

On Islay there was a Stone of Inauguration by Loch Finlaggan. It was seven feet square and had footprints cut into it. When a chief of the Clan Donald was installed as the "King of the Isles" he stood barefoot on the imprints on the stone, and with his father's stone in his hand was anointed King by the Bishop of Argyll and seven priests. During the ceremony an orator recited a list of his ancestors and he was proclaimed "Macdonald, high prince of the seed of Conn". The block was deliberately destroyed in the early seventeenth century (Bord 1976).

Gallery

Sunset over the Rhinns of Islay from a Bowmore Garden

Bridgend woods in January 2006

Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte

The Lighthouse at Carraig Fhada, Port Ellen

See also

• Petrosomatoglyph

Notes

References

• Jupp, Clifford The History of Islay: From earliest times to 1848, Port Charlotte: Museum of Islay Life, 1994. ASIN B0000COS6B
• Storrie, Margaret Islay: Biography of an Island, Colonsay: House of Lochar; New Ed edition, 1997. ISBN 0907651038

Further reading

• Newton, Norman Islay, Devon: David & Charles PLC; 2Rev Ed edition, 1995. ISBN 090711590X

External links

• Islay & Jura Islay and Jura Tourism and Marketing Group information about visiting Islay
• Islay's Ultimate Online Guide A wealth of information and pictures
• The Islay Guide A comprehensive guide to what to see and do on Islay
• The Islay Directory
• The Ileach, the local newspaper
• Islay Guide in pictures Discover Islay, its people, beaches, whisky and art
• Visit Islay, a local resident's website with many photographs
• Islay message boards at RootsWeb.com, for genealogists researching their Islay roots
• A historic, hearty Hebrides hike: Islay offers scenic views, pesty bugs, article from the San Francisco Chronicle (3 August 2006)
• VisitScotland Islay Video Report

Coordinates: 55°46′N 6°9′W / 55.767, -6.15